FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Orange County Flyers saw their playoff run end one game shy of the GBL Championship at the hands of Na Koa Ikaika Maui, suffering a 15-3 loss at Goodwin Field on Sunday night as Maui claimed the South Division crown. Maui defeated OC, 3-2, in the best-of-five series.

Maui hit four homeruns, including three off OC starter Manny Ayala (0-2) to chase him from the game in the fourth inning, and Na Koa's starting pitcher Donald Brandt (1-1) added to his own cause going 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI, including a solo homerun to lead off the third inning.

With the Angels bullpen in disrepair, there should be no limits in the search for a solution.

She's obviously not ready for MLB yet, but Japanese minor-league knuckleballer Eri Yoshida has caused quite a sensation in her home country.

Yoshida, 17, a sidearmer, has pitched only sparingly so far for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the four-team Kansai Independent League (Japan's version of the Golden League is my best guess).

She suffered her first loss Friday when she wild-pitched a runner home from third with two outs, breaking a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning. It was only her third appearance for Kobe 9 Cruise. The Akashi Red Soldiers won, 3-2.

Right-hander Eri Yoshida is 5-feet, 114 pounds, and idolizes Boston's Tim Wakefield. If she develops into a prospect, the Angels will surely have to purchase her contract from the Kobe 9 Cruise to keep her from coming back to haunt them at Fenway Park someday.

Hold on there Lakers fans. Kobe 9 Cruise isn't a vacation option with your hero on a luxury liner. Nor is the team named after him.

And it's the wrong number, 9, although I guess it's possible Mr. Bryant could switch uniforms again. My theory on the 8 for 24 switch was it was done so he could get two numbers retired by the Lakers. But I digress ...